Blackstone's Guide to the Coroners and Justice Act 2009

Jonathan Glasson and Julian B. Knowles

An excellent quick reference tool, logically organized and following the structure of the Act

Thorough yet concise narrative exploring how the law will work in practice

Includes the full text of the Act

Blackstone's Guide to the Coroners and Justice Act 2009

Jonathan Glasson and Julian B. Knowles

Description

The Blackstone's Guide Series delivers concise and accessible books covering the latest legislative changes and amendments. Published soon after enactment, they offer expert commentary by leading names on the extent, scope, and effects of the legislation, plus a full copy of the Act itself. They offer a cost-effective solution to key information needs and are the perfect companion for any practitioner needing to get up to speed with the latest changes.

The Coroners and Justice Act introduces significant changes to the inquest system, including creating a new national coroner service and establishing a new system of secondary certification of deaths that are not referred to a coroner. It also reforms and clarifies the law on homicide; updates the language
of the offence of assisting suicide; and contains amendments to the Data Protection Act 1998 to strengthen the Information Commissioner's powers and improve the sharing of information. It will establish a new Sentencing Council for England and Wales, and introduce changes to sentencing for terrorist offences. It will also introduce changes in the arena of witness anonymity, including: granting Investigative Witness Anonymity Orders in gun and knife crime cases; granting anonymity to vulnerable or intimidated witnesses; and extending the use of live video links and screens around the witness box to enable vulnerable witnesses to give evidence.

This new Blackstone's Guide combines the full text of the Act with an expert narrative. It seeks to explain the scope and impact of the
Act, including the civil liberties implications, and to bring practitioners up-to-date with this complex piece of drafting. Presented in a straightforward layout, it enables ease of use as a reference source.

Blackstone's Guide to the Coroners and Justice Act 2009

Jonathan Glasson and Julian B. Knowles

Table of Contents

1. IntroductionBackground to the ActScheme of the ActPART I: CORONERS 2. Investigations into DeathsIntroductionDuty to investigateInvestigation by other coronerDiscontinuance of investigationPurpose of investigationInquestsOutcome of investigationSuspension of investigationsDeath of service personnel abroadAncillary powers of coroners in relation to deathsFurther provisions to do with investigations and deaths3. Notification, Certification and Registration of Deaths4. Coroner Areas, Appointments, Etc5. Investigations Concerning Treasure6. Governance of Coroners7. Supplementary and Miscellaneous Provisions Concerning CoronersPART II: CRIMINAL OFFENCES8. Murder, Infanticide and SuicideIntroductionDiminished responsibilityLoss of controlInfanticideSuicide9. Images of ChildrenProhibited imagesIndecent pseudo-photographs10. ConspiracyPART III: CRIMINAL EVIDENCE, INVESTIGATIONS AND PROCEDURE 11. AnonymityIntroductionAnonymity in investigations12. Vulnerable and Intimidated WitnessesSpecial measures for vulnerable and intimidated witnessesEvidence of certain accused personsWitnesses protected from cross-examination by accused in person13. Live Links14. Miscellaneous Evidential, etc, MattersEvidence by video recordingEvidence of previous complaintsImmunityBailUnsigned indictmentsDetention
and treatment of terrorist suspects15. Miscellaneous Criminal Justice ProvisionsCommissioner for Victims and WitnessesImplementation of E-Commerce and Services directives: penaltiesTreatment of convictions in other member States etcTransfer to Parole Board of functions under the Criminal Justice Act 1991Retention of knives surrendered or seized (England and Wales)Retention of knives surrendered or seized (Northern Ireland)Security in tribunal buildingsPART IV: SENTENCING 16. Sentencing Council for England and WalesIntroductionSentencing GuidelinesDuties of the courtOther functions of the CouncilLord Chancellor's functionsMiscellaneous and general17. Other Provisions relating to
SentencingDriving disqualificationsDangerous offendersConfiscation ordersPART V: LEGAL AID 18. Community Legal ServicePART VI: CRIMINAL MEMOIRS 19. Criminal MemoirsIntroductionExploitation proceeds ordersExercise of power to make ordersAdditional powersInvestigationsLimitationPART VII: DATA PROTECTION 20. Data Protection Act 1998Assessment noticesData-sharing code of practiceFurther amendments of the Data Protection Act 1998 (c. 29)APPENDICES Appendix 1: The Coroners and Justice Act 2009

Blackstone's Guide to the Coroners and Justice Act 2009

Jonathan Glasson and Julian B. Knowles

Author Information

Jonathan Glasson is a barrister at Matrix Chambers, where he has a broad practice encompassing a range of civil and criminal work. He has extensive experience of inquests, acting for families as well as government departments in a number of high profile cases, as well as advising Coroners.

Julian B. Knowles is a leading junior barrister at Matrix Chambers, where he specializes in crime, extradition, public law, and human rights and has been involved in several inquests. He is the author of the Blackstone's Guide to the Extradition Act 2003, and co-author of The Law of Extradition and Mutual Assistance 2e.

Blackstone's Guide to the Coroners and Justice Act 2009

Jonathan Glasson and Julian B. Knowles

Reviews and Awards

"The perfect companion for our main practitioner works to give us a unique additional updating service to compliment formal updates which often lack the depth we require without time-consuming legal research."
--Phillip Taylor MBE, Richmond Green Chambers